hostile — hos·tile adj 1: having an intimidating, antagonistic, or offensive nature a hostile work environment 2 a: of or relating to an opposing party in a legal action a hostile claim b: adverse to the interests of a party to a legal action if the… … Law dictionary

hostile — hos‧tile [ˈhɒstaɪl ǁ ˈhɑːstl, ˈhɑːstaɪl] adjective FINANCE a hostile bid or takeover is one in which a company tries to buy another company whose shareholder S do not want to sell: • They ve managed to fight off a hostile takeover bid. * * * … Financial and business terms

Hostile — Hos tile, a. [L. hostilis, from hostis enemy: cf. F. hostile. See {Host} an army.] Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

hostile — (adj.) late 15c., from M.Fr. hostile of or belonging to an enemy or directly from L. hostilis of an enemy, from hostis enemy (see GUEST (Cf. guest)). The noun meaning hostile person is recorded from 1838, Amer.Eng., a word from the Indian Wars … Etymology dictionary

Hostile — Hos tile, n. An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; commonly in the plural. [Colloq.] P. H. Sheridan. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

hostile — ► ADJECTIVE 1) antagonistic; opposed. 2) of or belonging to a military enemy. 3) (of a takeover bid) opposed by the company to be bought. DERIVATIVES hostilely adverb hostility noun (pl. hostilities) . ORIGIN … English terms dictionary

hostile — hos|tile [ hastl ] adjective ** ▸ 1 unfriendly/threatening ▸ 2 opposing something ▸ 3 of/done by enemy in war ▸ 4 difficult/dangerous ▸ 5 in business 1. ) behaving in a very unfriendly or threatening way toward someone: The mayor found himself in … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English